President Steve introduced our own Dr. John Dunne who spoke on homelessness in Whatcom County. John is a retired child and adolescent psychiatrist and a member of our club.
John began by noting that he started talking to homeless men on the street - which got him interested in the issue. From there, he began compiling information and writing articles for the Salish Current. He observed that the response to homelessness began (and remains) without any central organization or organizing entity. There are numerous, separate agencies - each offering services.
At the start of his presentation, he began by quoting our own Hans Erchinger-Davis (Executive Director of the Lighthouse Mission) who noted, “People do not become homeless when they run out of money. They become homeless when they run out of relationships”.
John reported that people who become homeless are:
•Mothers with children fleeing DV or recently divorced
•Occasionally families
•College students
•Employed adults with low-paying jobs
•Those relying on disability or social security payments
•Heavy drug or alcohol users
•Severe, chronic mental illness
In 2024 point-in-time-count, 846 people were considered homeless in Whatcom County. Of those:
•40% are chronically homeless
•49% have substance abuse disorder and/or severe mental illness
•51% are not mentally impaired, although they may be disabled.
Where are they now?
•Couch surfing”
•Encampments
•Cars, trucks, boats, and RVs
•Whatcom County Jail
•Tiny home villages
•Bellingham Housing Authority
John showed us photos of facilities where the homeless are living. They include encampments, the Opportunity Council (118 Subsidized), Tiny Homes, the Housing Authority (677 Subsidized), Lydia House (20), Mercy Housing (83 subsidized), YWCA (38), Francis House (40), Sun House (9) and at the Lighthouse Mission. The Mission includes:
•200 beds for unsheltered men and women
•75 beds for homeless with chronic mental illness
•25 beds for respite care and medically fragile homeless
•6 rooms for homeless women with children
•28 beds each at the Ascent program and the Agape` House
•60 overnight beds
Among Services for the homeless:
•North Sound Behavioral Health Administrative Service operates a 24-hour MH hotline
•Whatcom County Health and Community Services provides outreach health providers to encampments
•City of Bellingham Housing Authority provides financial support for multiple programs
The Opportunity Council provides the following services:
•Temporary rent, food, and child care assistance
•Homeless Outreach Team (HOT)
•Peer counseling for 22 North, provided by Ideal Options
•Addiction treatment services for 22 North, provided by Lifeline Connections
•Maple Alley Inn providing lunch on Wed and Thursday
•Case management and housing referral at the Way Station
•Child care at Samish Commons and at the planned Bellis Fair project
Services provided by the Lighthouse Mission include:
•75 beds for mentally ill homeless
•Case management
•Job training, including at their café and donut bakery
•Anger management classes
•Long-term residential addiction recovery
•Drop in center
•Portable shower truck
The Opportunity Council Provides:
•Temporary rent, food, and child care assistance
•Homeless Outreach Team (HOT)
•Peer counseling for 22 North, provided by Ideal Options
•Addiction treatment services for 22 North, provided by Lifeline Connections
•Maple Alley Inn providing lunch on Wed and Thursday
•Case management and housing referral at the Way Station
•Child care at Samish Commons and at the planned Bellis Fair project
Numerous other groups also provide services to the homeless in Whatcom County:
The Hope House provides used clothing, sanitary products and non-perishable food, Case management
In-home care.
The Food Bank provides food.
At the new Way Station •Unity Health provides shower and laundry facilities, respite care and outpatient medical services
•Opportunity Council provides case management and housing referral
•Peace Health provides medical care for respite patients.
Northwest Youth Services provide drop in and case management services.
Other provides include:
•Dudgwalic Wellness Center, MH and addiction services, opening in 2025
•Mission for Missey provides Narcan, water etc. to unhoused homeless
•Recovery Café provides lunch on Tues and Wed for those with addictions
•CAST (Coffee and Sandwiches Together)
•Informal food providers, e.g., Birchwood neighbors
Part II of John’s presentation is scheduled for next Monday.
